Stormont-Vail HealthCare broke ground on its new surgery center located at Topeka Public Schools’ Kanza Education and Science Park on Tuesday, September 26th. The building, which is expected to open in the fall of 2015, will be a three-story, 87,657 square-foot, state-of-the-art building costing about $20 million to construct.
According to Randy Peterson, president and CEO of Stormont-Vail, the building will house orthopedic and single-day surgery departments, as well as physical, occupational and speech therapy facilities. The building will also have doctor’s offices and two X-ray rooms.
This building, and all the amenities it will offer, is especially exciting to Topeka Public Schools. Through a partnership with Stormont-Vail HealthCare, TPS students will have many opportunities to learn about careers in the medical field and will be able to expand on their science education at the new facility. TPS deputy superintendent Larry Robbins is excited about the possibilities that will become available to the district’s students through this innovative partnership. “When you look at our healthcare pathway, we couldn’t ask for a better partner than Stormont-Vail HealthCare. They will have a hand in designing a curriculum around healthcare and will also provide scholarship opportunities to TPS graduates who wish to pursue nursing careers after high school.”
Robbins is also looking forward to the physical presence of Stormont-Vail on the Kanza property. “Stormont-Vail’s medical complex, along with the Westar Energy Substation, makes a wonderful visual statement about the importance Topeka Public Schools is placing on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education.”
Why is STEM education so important? Because a curriculum heavy in science, technology, engineering and math prepares students for the careers of the future. Topeka Public Schools gives students the tools they need to be successful in school and in life. Williams Science and Fine Arts Magnet School embodies the district’s philosophy that a quality science education is essential to our students’ futures. At Williams, students are provided with regular opportunities for hands-on learning to enhance the science curriculum. We hope the skills taught to students throughout the district will inspire them to continue their science education beyond their time at Topeka Public Schools.
The Securing our Future: Educate, Innovate and Protect bond initiative that was approved by voters last April will provide for the remodeling of science classrooms in all middle and high schools across the district. The classrooms will be state-of-the-art, meeting 21st century science standards. These facilities, paired with partnerships we are establishing with local corporations like Stormont-Vail HealthCare and Westar Energy will ensure the students of Topeka Public Schools are well prepared for their futures.
